Did you know that 2025 marks the 18th anniversary for Chicago's Restaurant Week? From hidden gems to award-winning spots, those in the Windy City can expect over two weeks of delicious deals at more than (and a record-breaking) 500 restaurants across the city.
The best part? There are over 40 participating MICHELIN Guide restaurants in this year's event. And with special prix fixe menus ($30 for brunch/lunch and $45 or $60 for dinner) at each spot, there is no better time to get a taste of Chicago's diverse culinary scene!
And if you need some additional tips on how to explore Chicago like a pro, here's some top tips for a romantic weekend getaway and Grant Achatz's (of Three Star Alinea) favorite restaurants.
Avondale
Anelya
Cuisine: Eastern European
Price: $60 dinner menu
Named for his grandmother, Chefs Johnny Clark and Beverly Kim bring the flavors of Eastern Europe to Avondale. The menu takes a product-focused approach to traditional specialties.
Inspector notes: "Green borsch is enhanced with dill and nettles, stocked with boiled egg and slices of fingerling potato, while the freshly baked, butter-glazed, challah-like pampushky bread is a perfect pairing with the soup."
Stay nearby:
Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood is the kind of post-industrial environment that’s perfectly suited to the Hoxton's 21st-century boutique-hotel aesthetic, and it’s here that a disused meatpacking warehouse has been transformed into the Hoxton Hotel, Chicago.
Bucktown/Wicker Park
Ina Mae
Cuisine: Southern
Price: $45 dinner menu
Straddling a bustling corner, this New Orleans-style tavern feels right at home in vibrant Wicker Park. Named for Executive Chef Brian Jupiter’s great-grandmother, Ina Mae, the menu ticks off many NOLA classics.
Inspector notes: "Come for lunch or dinner for staples like their Gumbo Ya-Ya with shrimp, chicken, crawfish, and a scoop of potato salad, or their NOLA po'boys with a variety of options, but don't miss the staff favorite—their Nashville Fried Chicken."
Mama Delia (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Spanish
Price: $45 dinner menu
This hot mama greets diners with a marble bar along with an enticing cabinet display of premium conservas, oils, and spices. The kitchen is focused on cooking that is both ingenious and satisfying.
Inspector notes: "Albeit traditional, desserts like the tarta de Santiago (almond-flour cake with apple sorbet) deliver singular twists and turns."
Pompette (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Contemporary
Price: $30 brunch/lunch and $45/$60 dinner menu
Pompette is the kind of place you could come all day, every day, and never tire of the selection. Why? The menu, for starters. It's seasonal with an ever-changing rotation of signature dishes.
Inspector notes: "Snack on a satisfying charcuterie board with meats, such as feather-thin, 18-month prosciutto di Parma, and a variety of cheeses and house-made pickles."
The Perch
Cuisine: American
Price: $30 brunch/lunch and $45 dinner menu
A whitewashed façade and verdant planters welcome diners to this warm and intimate dining room. This is cooking that's certainly both excellent and exciting.
Inspector notes: "Share a plate of potato-bacon croquettes to begin, then tuck into a grilled NY strip accompanied by an arugula salad."
Stay nearby:
The Robey Chicago, Grupo Habita’s second hotel in the United States, is the new occupant of North Tower, a 1929 Art Deco skyscraper in Wicker Park. The Mexican mini-chain tapped a Belgian design team, Nicolas Schuybroek Architects and Marc Merckx Interiors, to overhaul the place, reshaping office space into 89 guest rooms and a handful of cafés and lounges, including a striking indoor-outdoor bar on the 13th floor.
Gold Coast
Blue Door Kitchen & Garden
Cuisine: American
Price: $30 brunch/$60 dinner menu
Thank chef-to-the-stars Art Smith for raising the stakes of the local dining scene with this relaxed bistro. In 1871, this carriage house home is said to have survived the Great Chicago Fire. Today, the cozy and well-appointed dining room makes the most of its parquet floors, Louis XV-style chairs, welcoming bar, and open kitchen where Southern-leaning fare is prepared in full view.
Inspector notes: "Deviled eggs are a solid staple, elevated ever so slightly with pickled peppers, and the juicy, crunchy fried chicken is a hit for a reason."
Stay nearby:
Viceroy Chicago (One MICHELIN Key)
The Viceroy hotels exist at the intersection of luxury-hotel extravagance and boutique-hotel tastefulness, and the brand-new Viceroy Chicago is no different. The building, a gently undulating glass tower, is pure luxe modernity, but the lower floors blend effortlessly into Chicago’s Gold Coast, thanks to the meticulously preserved façade of the 1920s-vintage Cedar Hotel, which was reassembled brick by brick once the tower was complete.
Hyde Park
Virtue (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Southern
Price: $60 dinner menu
Occupying a corner of Hyde Park within view of the University of Chicago, this is an inviting retreat with a welcoming bar, striking dining room, and buzzy kitchen helmed by the very talented Erick Williams. His well-executed Southern cooking draws a smart crowd, largely from the university nearby.
Inspector notes: "For starters, imagine skillet corn bread with a steak knife for slicing and slathering on the honey butter, while dirty rice topped with chicken gizzards is just what the soul ordered."
Stay nearby:
The LaSalle Chicago, Autograph Collection
Chicago’s Financial District is the perfect place for a hotel like the LaSalle Chicago, Autograph Collection — a swanky modern luxury hotel with a generous streak of retro styling, a tasteful complement to the Art Deco exterior of this landmark tower, formerly the home to the city’s two biggest banks.
Lakeview
Itoko
Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $30 brunch/$45 dinner menu
Located in Lakeview, Itoko occupies a modern, sleek space. The large izakaya and sushi menu offers plenty to consider. From hot and cold appetizers to handrolls, sushi and robata, the items display creative combinations with skilled execution.
Inspector notes: "Start with a tom yum hand roll with sweet diced shrimp tossed in a fiery tom yum sauce or the seared mackerel, then opt for the decadent gyoza or the "slider" skewer with beef tsukune wrapped in bao buns and finished with a line of tangy miso mustard."
Stay nearby:
By now the Thompson brand’s international ambitions are out in the open, and if the Thompson Chicago already feels familiar, it’s because the Thompson boutique-hotel recipe is fairly well understood: equal parts classic, eye-catching modernism, luxe yet attainable comforts, and inviting, magnetic public spaces, where travelers and locals meet and mingle over a cocktail or a meal.
Lincoln Park
Boka (One MICHELIN Star)
Cuisine: Contemporary
Price: $60 dinner menu
After more than a decade of excellence, Chef/owner Lee Wolen’s flagship shines as bright as ever. An appealing modern menu celebrates seasonal ingredients with bold preparations and exceptional clarity.
Inspector notes: "Pasta is exceptional. Think ricotta ravioli with summer corn and smoked buttermilk or porcini gnudi packed with garlicky intensity."
Dear Margaret (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Contemporary
Price: $60 dinner menu
This quaint spot from Chef Ryan Brosseau pays homage to his French-Canadian mémé, Margaret, and fittingly, resembles a grandma's house. This is a French-Canadian menu that goes beyond poutine and cheese curds.
Inspector notes: "Comfort and decadence are at the heart of such shareable plates as an heirloom tomato salad starring fromage blanc, pickled shallots and dressed with black garlic-ice wine vinegar."
Esmé (One MICHELIN Star)
Cuisine: Contemporary
Price: $60 dinner menu
Together with his co-owner and wife, Katrina Bravo, Chef Jenner Tomaska lays bare lofty ambitions at this airy atelier. The minimalist, well-lit space evokes an art gallery, complete with a high concept tasting that's aimed at blurring the boundaries between art and dining.
Inspector notes: "Flavorful compositions showcase unexpected combinations, as in "tomahawk" style Dover sole in a vin jaune sauce with spiced compressed pear and seaweed."
Galit (One MICHELIN Star)
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Price: $60 dinner menu
Chef Zach Engel brings his experience to bear on this personal brand of modern Middle Eastern cuisine. His prix-fixe allows diners to make their own selections from a range of options.
Inspector notes: "A generous first course kicks things off: Creamy hummus with brisket and salatim (spreads and pickles) accompanied by just-cooked, flame-kissed pita."
mfk. (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Fusion
Price: $60 dinner menu
“First we eat, then we do everything else,” said M.F.K. Fisher, the food writer who serves as both the inspiration and namesake for this local darling. Organized from small to large plates, the thoughtfully composed, Iberian-inspired menu follows suit.
Inspector notes: "Simple, flavorful dishes, like warm boquerónes, croquettes with Montamoré cheese, or crostini with butter, lemon, and a single anchovy are tempting before main dishes like seared scallops with persimmon gazpacho or sides like roasted parsnips with mole amarillo."
Stay nearby:
Waldorf Astoria Chicago (One MICHELIN Key)
Even in a city with some truly monumental architecture, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago feels like a remarkably grand hotel. One look at the huge English courtyard, or the museum-like marble lobby, and it’s clear that this is a full-scale luxury hotel all the way — especially since all this black, white, and polish gives off a dazzling Art Deco vibe.
Logan Square
Andros Taverna
Cuisine: Greek
Price: $30 brunch/lunch and $60 dinner menu
There is more than one way to enjoy this handsome Greek looker, set just off Logan Square Park. No detail goes unnoticed in this breezy space flaunting sleek concrete floors, dangling greenery and a wood-burning oven that kisses nearly everything on the menu.
Inspector notes: "Some make an entire meal out of the mezze by swiping warm pita through dips, like creamy whipped feta, smoky charred eggplant and creamy taramasalata."
Daisies (Green Star and Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $45/$60 dinner menu
With the flick of a switch, Logan Square’s beloved pasta restaurant has found a new home just down Milwaukee Avenue. Much to everyone’s delight, house-made pastas like pappardelle with mushroom ragu or rigatoni with pork ragu and fermented tomato remain prime attractions.
Inspector notes: "Onion dip with house-made ruffles is still on the menu and still a must-order."
Giant (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: American
Price: $60 dinner menu
Brought to you by Jason Vincent, this fabulous and friendly restaurant is the epitome of Chicago. Its menu is a listing of familiar dishes (think onion rings, crab salad and baby back ribs), albeit drummed up with unique accents reflecting the chef’s distinctive style.
Inspector notes: "Kick things off with the excellent Jonah crab salad, served with soft waffle-cut potato fritters and freshly made cocktail sauce."
Longman & Eagle (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Gastropub
Price: $60 dinner menu
Since opening in 2010, this gastropub has defined what it means to look like one thing but cook like something else. The daytime menu is especially enticing.
Inspector notes: "T Cured salmon with crispy potato pancake is a meal unto itself, while the omelet has few equals, a singular triumph folded around mushroom, sweet leeks, and melted brie."
Table, Donkey and Stick (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Austrian
Price: $45/$60 dinner menu
When American comfort food just won’t suffice, look to Table, Donkey and Stick for a helping of cozy Alpine fare. The rustic inn-inspired setting reflects its reputation as a gathering place where friends meet at the inviting bar or settle in at communal tables for whimsical, creative compositions.
Inspector notes: "Layered like a tower, the grilled lamb shoulder over a bed of creamy lentils surprises with every bite."
Stay nearby:
The Publishing House Bed and Breakfast
True to its name, the Publishing House Bed and Breakfast was once the Free Methodist Publishing House (and a casket factory, and a holograph museum). A Chicago institution, in other words, inside and out it’s a love letter to well-crafted design and material details like the double-sided fireplace in the public great room.
Little Italy/University Village
Chez Joël
Cuisine: French
Price: $45 dinner menu
Chez Joël is a tasteful setting beloved by expats recalling their travel stories. A cozy bar in the back is ideal for sipping, but then get down to business by partaking in this kitchen’s cuisine—classic French mingled with global effects.
Inspector notes: "Begin with such signatures as cuisses de grenouilles à la Provençale—frogs' legs cooked with garlic, spinach and just the right bit of butter."
Stay nearby:
A fixture in both central London and downtown Manhattan, the Soho House members’ clubs have been expanding, both to far-flung global locations and to major cities in the United States. And it’s in a picturesque 1908 industrial building in the neighborhood of Fulton Market that you’ll find Soho House Chicago, an establishment that is, if you’ll forgive what sounds like overstatement, much more than simply a hotel.
Loop
Bar Mar
Cuisine: Seafood
Price: $30 lunch/$45 dinner menu
Add this lustrous pearl to the treasury of Chef José Andrés’ culinary empire. The eye-catching décor includes a glowing octopus sculpture that looms above the central bar--a visual cue for the oceanic theme.
Inspector notes: "The seafood-centric menu deftly juggles Spanish and Latin-American flavors, seen in starters like mussels in escabeche, or a Peruvian-inspired bigeye tuna ceviche with ponzu sauce, puffed quinoa, and furikake."
Prime & Provisions
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Price: $60 dinner menu
Though it would also feel at home in Las Vegas, this glitzy oversized steakhouse fits right in with its swanky Chicago riverfront neighbors.
Inspector notes: "House-flared, thick-cut bacon seasoned with black pepper, Michigan maple syrup, and dark chocolate starts things off on a decadent note, tailed by a dry-aged NY strip with black pepper crust served with mushrooms and mashed potatoes."
The Gage
Cuisine: Gastropub
Price: $30 lunch/$60 dinner menu
For more than a decade, this expansive, eclectic gastropub has catered to the Millennium Park crowds.
Inspector notes: "Pub classics with flair define the menu, like malt-battered cod with creamy tartar sauce and parsley-flecked thick-cut fries—a solid rendition of fish and chips."
Stay nearby:
Chicago Athletic Association (One MICHELIN Key)
Chicago’s architectural story began before modernism — this Venetian Gothic landmark, previously a private club for the city’s (male) movers and shakers, dates back to the final decade of the 19th century. But now, after a renovation by architects Hartshorne Plunkard and an interior redesign by hospitality wizards Roman and Williams, the Chicago Athletic Association, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, is a thoroughly up-to-date boutique hotel, in that retro-modern, luxury-boutique sort of way.
Pilsen
HaiSous (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Price: $60 dinner menu
This passion project of Chef Thai Dang and wife, Danielle, offers refined Vietnamese cuisine in a plum setting. The menu, divided into five sections, is filled with wonderful, lesser-known (and possibly unexpected) dishes you won’t want to miss.
Inspector notes: "Don’t leave without sampling the goi vit (duck salad), followed by ché, a Vietnamese rice pudding with coconut, sesame, and toasted peanuts."
A fixture in both central London and downtown Manhattan, the Soho House members’ clubs have been expanding, both to far-flung global locations and to major cities in the United States. And it’s in a picturesque 1908 industrial building in the neighborhood of Fulton Market that you’ll find Soho House Chicago, an establishment that is, if you’ll forgive what sounds like overstatement, much more than simply a hotel.
River North
Brindille
Cuisine: French
Price: $60 dinner menu
Brindille’s menu bears a strong Parisian accent influenced by the chef’s love for French cuisine.
Inspector notes: "Roasted chestnuts are whirled into a creamy soup and poured over compressed apple, wild mushrooms and puffed rice."
Frontera Grill (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Mexican
Price: $30 lunch/$45 dinner menu
This linchpin in Rick Bayless’ empire is decidedly unique in its homage to regional Mexican cuisine and displays a cult-like devotion to local product. From the table-shaken margaritas and the molés to the warm, uplifting music, you'll likely feel you're in Mexico.
Inspector notes: "Begin with the sopa azteca—a nourishing pasilla chile broth poured atop tortilla strips, avocado, grilled chicken and jack cheese."
Gilt Bar (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Gastropub
Price: $60 dinner menu
Doughnuts, dry-aged steaks, and house-made pastas—Hogsalt Hospitality certainly has the lockdown on this corner of River North, but it all started in 2010 with this moody and imposing retreat.
Inspector notes: "We're hooked on the fried chicken that arrives with a golden-brown crust and rich mashed potatoes."
Perilla (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Korean
Price: $60 dinner
This prime location welcomes diners with a mural of former First Lady, Michelle Obama, dressed in a hanbok. Inside, the vibe is cozy with an urbane simplicity. Chef Andrew Lim's forte lies in his contemporary take on familiar Korean food.
Inspector notes: "Kimchi stew with glass noodles; fire chicken with Chihuahua cheese; and even that classic fried chicken gets a spin in this kitchen—the latter with ranch and pickled radish."
RPM Steak
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Price: $60 dinner menu
This bi-level space, centered around a large wraparound marble bar, flaunts a warm, sleek, and moneyed vibe.
Inspector notes: "Highlights include classic steak frites, petite filets, and that mighty cowboy steak—cooked to pink and seasoned with a winning blend of ground and fried thyme, rosemary, garlic, and kosher salt."
Sifr (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Price: $60 dinner menu
In this quiet, sun-soaked corner of River North, the team behind Indienne hits the mark with this Middle Eastern charmer where tables crowd with dips, small plates, and items hot off the grill.
Inspector notes: "A platter of chicken shish taouk that’s marinated in yogurt, crusted in spices and charred all over or halloumi cheese served with beets and finished in a honey and pomegranate molasses."
Tzuco
Cuisine: Mexican
Price: $60 dinner menu
Chef Carlos Gaytán plays host to non-stop crowds at Tzuco. There’s no better perch in the house than at the chef’s counter, where the maestro himself leads his merry team and composes creative dishes that feel at once traditional and inspired.
Inspector notes: "Tacos, like ones filled with grilled octopus and puffed chicharron, are always spot on."
Stay nearby:
New York may be America’s most recognizable cityscape, but for fans of skyscrapers and the utopian optimism of modernist architecture there’s no place quite like Chicago. And for an introduction to Chicago-style vertical living, with a healthy dose of both modern design and contemporary luxury, it would be hard to do much better than Eurostars Magnificent Mile.
South Loop
Moody Tongue (One MICHELIN Star)
Cuisine: Contemporary
Price: $60 dinner menu
Moody Tongue is a unique showcase, whereby a creative menu bearing a panoply of inspiration and influence is brilliantly matched with a virtuosic array of house-crafted brews.
Inspector notes: "Indulge in such creations as black cod with makhani curry paired with an orange blossom Belgian blonde ale or lamb borek paired with a cassis lambic."
Stay nearby:
Nearly lost in the excitement about the birth Virgin Hotels is the fact that it’s a real hotel we’re talking about, in the actually existing city of Chicago, Illinois, in a restored 1928-vintage building inside the Loop, the city’s central business district.
Uptown
Demera
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Price: $30 lunch and $45/$60 dinner menu
Demera’s well-lit corner location welcomes hungry Uptown residents looking to immerse themselves in Ethiopian cuisine. Vegetarian and omnivorous offerings abound on the menu, which also features a small glossary of terms to help newcomers.
Inspector notes: "Pleasantly spicy yesiga wot combines tender chunks of beef with onions and ginger in a rich berbere sauce. Served with turmeric-infused split peas and spicy jalapeño-laced collard greens, this stew is a hearty pleasure."
Kie-Gol-Lanee (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: Mexican
Price: $30 brunch and $45/$60 dinner menu
Located in the heart of Little Saigon, this quiet restaurant has been thriving thanks to a clientele who knows quality when they taste it. If you think you know what to order from this kitchen because you’ve been to Oaxaca, just wait a minute and listen to your fellow diners.
Inspector notes: "The likes of soft, just-steamed pork tamales with a delicately spiced green mole; or wide, crackly tlayudas piled high with chorizo are presented to your table with the utmost care."
Stay nearby:
One of many hotels to have learned the lessons of the apartment-sharing boom, Chicago’s Guesthouse Hotel offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites, each one fit for as long a stay as you’d like.
West Loop
Alla Vita
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $30 lunch/$60 dinner menu
The Boka Restaurant Group is no stranger to quality, which you’ll find in spades in this gorgeous room decorated with crystal pendants, hand-painted tile floors, and an amber-tinted sculpture floating overhead.
Inspector notes: "There’s the crowd favorite rigatoni alla vodka—at once sweet, creamy, and toothsome—as well as a confident half chicken, roasted and served with grilled lemon."
avec
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Price: $30 brunch/lunch and $60 dinner menu
This West Randolph mainstay has been a smash hit for more than two decades – and for good reason. The Mediterranean menu runs with the seasons, and it’s no trouble finding favor in the bold, colorful plates that come out of this smooth-running kitchen.
Inspector notes: "Dishes like roasted asparagus with za’atar buttermilk or chickpea hummus with oyster mushrooms arrive crowned with all manner of vibrant herbs, sauces, and crunchy garnishes."
Gaijin
Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $30 lunch/$45 dinner
Gaijin is Paul Virant's love letter to okonomiyaki. Thanks to his time in Japan, the chef displays ace skills and experience. Osaka and Hiroshima are the main styles on his menu, which also flaunts a custom brew from Moody Tongue.
Inspector notes: "Desserts, like shirokuma with pineapple-buttermilk sherbet and coconut syrup, are worth the splurge."
Girl & The Goat (Contemporary)
Cuisine: Contemporary
Price: $60 dinner menu
The revolving door never stops turning as Girl & The Goat’s party keeps going. A pick-your-own-protein adventure, the menu is organized by ingredients with a dedicated section for goat.
Inspector notes: "Start with freshly baked ham bread accompanied by smoked Swiss cheese-butter seasoned with coarse mustard and olive tapenade."
Momotaro
Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $60 dinner menu
Boka Restaurant Group’s stunning West Loop canteen embraces a fantastical view of Japanese dining. Consistently packed, this impeccably designed space boasts numerous kitchens churning out a range of dishes, all conceived by the talented Executive Chef Gene Kato.
Inspector notes: "Jidori kimo, those prized chicken oysters—here grilled to perfection—has long been a signature, while the beef tsukune sliders in a bao from the robata-yaki are equally impressive."
Monteverde
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $60 dinner menu
Chef Sarah Grueneberg is a local celebrity, so expect her offspring to be packed to the last dining counter stool by 5:30 P.M.Her signature Italian cooking—or cucina tipica as the menu lists it—is what draws crowds.
Inspector notes: "Subbing whey for water in the cacio whey pepe delivers a slight tang and added creaminess, and the al dente pasta, tossed in Pecorino Romano and finished with a four peppercorn blend, is spot on."
Proxi (Bib Gourmand)
Cuisine: International
Price: $60 dinner
Here at Proxi, Chef Andrew Zimmerman seems intent on presenting his diners with a culinary whirlwind that blows from Thai beef salad to coal-roasted oysters with ssamjang butter and beyond.
Inspector notes: "Otherworldly highlights reveal delicate duck dumplings floating in a pho broth with fried shallots and aromatic herbs."
ROOP Chicago
Cuisine: Indian
Price: $30 lunch/$60 dinner menu
The menu is dotted with Indian classics enhanced by such cutting-edge flavors as seen in the deep-fried cauliflower koliwada, accompanied by tempered yogurt and a rice mousse with peanut thecha.
Inspector notes: "Classic palates will relish the wonderfully creamy dal coupled with a plain naan for scooping, while a baked semolina cake with milk ice cream and pistachios will have sweet teeth swooning."
Rose Mary
Cuisine: Croatian
Price: $60 dinner menu
Conceived by Chef Joe Flamm, this neighborhood delight in the West Fulton Market is worth every bit of hype—from its singular menu to the airy design. Well-versed servers are on hand to guide patrons through the menu, which draws inspiration from the Adriatic
Inspector notes: "High points include tortellini djuvec (eggplant and preserved zucchini in a red pepper cream) as well as burek with ground beef and mozzarella.
The Izakaya at Momotaro
Cuisine: Japanese
Price: $45 dinner menu
Nestled beneath the ever-buzzing Momotaro is this stylish and serene bolthole where reservations are a must on most nights. Of course, you're not just here for the look and feel—it's the likable izakaya menu that lures most.
Inspector notes: "Begin with delicious sashimi like shima aji, akami or otoro, only to be followed up with the equally alluring uni pasta."
Stay nearby:
Nobu Hotel Chicago (One MICHELIN Key)
Further evidence for the proposition that Chicago is one of America’s most hospitable cities: more than three decades after the original restaurant collaboration between the actor Robert De Niro and the celebrated chef Nobu Matsuhisa opened its doors in New York, the brand’s hotels have become a global phenomenon, and the West Loop is graced with one of its very own; Nobu Hotel Chicago, fittingly, stands over a stretch of Randolph Street known as Restaurant Row.
West Town
Maxwells Trading
Cuisine: Contemporary
Price: $60 dinner menu
It can feel as if half the city is dining in this quiet pocket of West Loop. The cooking behind all this commotion assuredly plays with Japanese, Chinese, and Thai elements.
Inspector notes:"Think Japanese eggplant with scallion bread, sweet potatoes with Thai green curry, or soup dumpling tortellini with maitake mushroom."
Swift & Sons
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Price: $60 dinner menu
With the inception of this large steakhouse at 1K Fulton, New York City-based design firm AvroKO adds to their local portfolio in collaboration with the Boka Restaurant Group. The kitchen’s contemporary take on steak serves up USDA Prime beef seared at high heat and presented with a trio of sauces.
Inspector notes: "Extras (like king crab Oscar) or desserts (like Boston cream pie) are worth the calories."
The Langham Chicago (Two MICHELIN Key)
There was a time when Chicago’s hotel scene, on the whole, lagged far behind those of coastal capitals like New York and Los Angeles. Today, though, its best hotels are more than worthy of its status as a world-class city. A hotel like the Langham, Chicago, then, is a sign of the times, and a remarkably complete package as well: contemporary design, state-of-the-art comforts, thoughtful, professional service, and a link to the city’s urban history, embodied in its location: 330 North Wabash, formerly known as IBM Plaza, the last work of the modernist master architect Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe.
Hero image: Ryan Beshel / Brindille
